Mopping-machine.



PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

J. W. OCONNOR.

MOPPING MACHINE. APPLIUAYTION FILED MAB. 6. 190B.

2 sHEETsAsHEfiT 2.

Snow/tow J 01m W. OComwr' JOHN W. OOONNOR, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

MOPPING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Application fii; March 5, 1906. Serial No. 304,171.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. OCoNNoR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mopping- Machines; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide a mopping machine of improvedconstruction that is adapted to be pushed across the floor after themanner of the well known carpet sweeper.

The invention consists in the improved construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of theinvention-Figure 1 is a view in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a top planview; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the machine on theline :r9c Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the truck showing themechanism thereon with the mop belt, the hood, the tank, and the wastewater drawer removed, and the wringer rollers broken out; Fig. 5 is adetail of means for adjusting a roller over which the mop belt runs forregulating the tautness of the belt.

In the views 1 designates the main or truck frame which is rectangularin form and is supported at its front end on wheels l and at its rearend on wheels 1 the latter preferably provided with rubber tires toengender friction to drive the belt.

Between the sides of the frame 1, at its forward end, is journaled anidler roller 2, and in rear of this, and above the horizontal plane ofthe roller 2 are two other idler rollers 3 and 4, journaled one abovethe other between standards 5 rising from the sides of the frame.

In the rear of the rollers 3 and 4 and below the horizontal plane of thelower one of them is the driven roller 6, said roller also convenientlyconstituting one member of a pair of wringer rollers. The other member 7of the pair of wringer rollers is mounted between arms 8 secured to ashalt 8 that is rockingly supported in small brackets 8 and 8 risingfrom opposite sides of the frame 1. The two wringer rollers are soplaced with respect to each other that their axes lie in a plane at anincline of about forty-five degrees to the horizontal plane so that thewater wrung from the mop cloths can discharge into the end of a wastewater pan 9. This pan 9 is shown to be movable and adapted to beinserted under the opening between the wringer rollers. The wringerroller 7 is held yieldingly toward the roller 6 by means of a coiledspring 10 attached at one end to a bar 10 secured between the sides ofthe frame 1, and at its other end to an arm. 8 secured to the shaft 8.

11 designates a bolt to which the mopping cloths 11", are attached eachby stitching or other means along one edge only so as to leave a freetrailing portion. This belt 1] is stretched around the rollers 2, 3, 4and 6 so that by the operation of the mechanism to be presentlydescribed the belt is driven in a direction to drag or trail the clothson the floor with their attached edges forward and in a directioncorresponding to the forward movement of the machine. The advantage ofthis operation is that the cloths are not liable to bunch up under themachine and are always carried spread out over the floor thus doingtheir work more effectively.

12 designates a shaft bearing a pinion 12, said shaft being journaledbetween the sides of the frame 1 near the rear of the machine. The rearwheels 1 are suitably connected with an axle 13, on which is a gearwheel 13 engaging and driving the pinion 12 and shaft 1.2, and on theend of the shaft 12 is a sprocket from which passes a chain 12 to 'asprocket 12 on the end of the roller 6. By pushing the machine in theforward direction motion is imparted to the belt in the directionindicated by the arrows (Fig. 3) near the beltthat is, in the directionto trail or drag the mopping cloths on the floor from their line ofattachment to the belt. The direction of motion of the cloths on thefloor is thus made to coincide with the forward motion of the machine.

Mounted at the forward end of the machine and in advance of the roller 2is a frame 21 carrying a nonrotative scrubber or brush 21. The frame 21is open from its upper to its lower side, or so that water fed to theupper side of the scrubber will seep through and thoroughly soak thescrubber at its lower or scrubbing face. Water is supplied to thescrubber from a tank 14 conveniently mounted at the rear of the machine,a trough 15 supplied by a regulatable discharge cock 14 on the tankcarrying the water to the scrubber. The trough 15 is convenientlysecured along the side of the machine and has its forward end bentaround the front of the machine so as to terminate over the middle ofthe brush and thus secure a better distribution of the water in thelatter.

The forward portion of the machine in which the mop belt operates can beguarded at its upper side by means of a hood 16 having an opening 16" atits top through which the belt can be examined and the ten sion thereofregulated. The tension device shown includes two blocks like thatindicated at 17 containing the bearings for the roller 3 and. slidingvertically in the upper ends of the standards 5, said blocks beingadjustable up or down by means of screws 18 entering the blocks and heldfrom longitudinal movement, as indicated in Fig. 5.

In order that the belt may not be operated by the backward movement ofthe machine. a simple and cheap device for the purpose can be added between the rear carrying wheels l. and their axle, but a simpler andcheaper device consists of a wheel 19 mounted in a bracket 19 projectingbackward and downward from the rear of the frame 1, said wheel being solocated as not to touch the floor when the machine rests normally on thewheels 1 and 1 but so that by a slight tilting of the machine it can bemade to rest solely upon said wheel 19.

20 designates the lower portion of a handle attached to the machine bywhich it can be pushed to do the work.

Water is supplied to the tank as needed through an opening at thetop-thereof which opening can be provided with a cap 14.

The waste water pan 9 is made removable (like a drawer) from the rear ofthemachine so that the soiled Water can lrom time to time be removed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a moppingmachine, the combination with a frame having the rear supporting wheels1 and axle therefor,

belt supporting rollers journaled in said frame, a belt carrying mopcloths running on said rollers each cloth attached at one edge onlythereto, a wringing roll adapted to cooperate with one of said rollersand means for driving said belt to trail the mop cloths on the floor ina direction corresponding to the forward movement of the machinecomprising the driven gear Wheel 13" on the axle of the rear supportingwheel's, a pinion 12 and shaft therefor, and a sprocket chain connectingsaid shaft and one of the belt supporting rollers.

2. In a mopping machine, the combination with a frame, helt supportingrollers journaled thereon, a belt on said rollers carrying mop clothsattached thereto at one edge only, means for driving said belt to trailthe mop cloths on the door in a direction corresponding to the for wardmotion of the machine, a nonrotative scrubber at the forward end of themachine, a water tank, and a duct for conveying Water from said tank tosaid scrubber.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN w. OCONNOR.

Witnesses OLIX J. Rosn, BnNJ. FINCKEL.

